Mediterranean

Location

With the over-crowded Sunday brunch players in Shanghai, it is clear that weekend diners find difficulty in selecting the appropriate restaurant to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Previously, it was easy to select the glutton’s delight of a 5-star hotel buffet spread that competed on who served the most Alaskan crab, caviar, fois gras, oyster and free-flow champagne. It was the fad then to be seen in such establishments, networking at the buffet stands while queuing up for your risotto at one of the live cook stations. Today, this manner of indulgence has become over-done and passé.

Location

There are many Italian restaurants here that do excellent authentic and traditional Italian cuisine; in fact Beijing seems to be over-run with them.

Once in a while you come across a restaurant that challenges your notions about cooking, and that is Fratelli Fresh. Chef Ivan Fargnoli’s originality surpasses all the other Italian restaurants here, and his creativity and expressionism is what fine-dining should be about.

Location

Since the soft opening of the Peninsula Hotel in late 2009, this art-deco building brings renewed grandeur to the top of the Bund, near the recently restored Wai Bai Du Qiao (Garden Bridge). Already famous for its collection of highly acclaimed restaurants in Hong Kong, the Peninsula Shanghai adds to the fine dining gamut with its Mediterranean-inspired restaurant – Sir Elly.

Location

195 3rd floor anfu lu near wulumuqi lu // 上海安福路195号三楼近乌鲁木齐路

Shanghai

China

Craig Willis, the executive chef from the Wagas group, the man who brought you RoomTwentyEight of URBN hotel and Bistro by Wagas, now spends his time in the open kitchen of his new self-titled restaurant, Mr Willis. The cozy little eatery sits above two of Craig’s other creations; a bakery named Baker and Spice and La Strada, a pizzeria. Mr Willis sits on the third floor at 195 Anfu rd near Wulumuqi rd.

Location

With strong French influences, this restaurant presents high quality food, presented superbly, at prices that befit a high-end establishment.

The Shanghai Sheshan Oriential Sofitel hotel is located amongst the golf courses, parks and lush greenery to the southwest of Shanghai. In this secluded setting, Sofitel has built a massive resort-like destination that includes everything one would expect from a top end hotel, and more (such as 3400 square meters of outdoors pools). Of particular interest to foodies, it also boasts four separate on-site restaurants.

Location

No 17 Gongti Bei Lu // 北京工体北路17号 Tel:010-6417 9669

Beijing

China

Olive Cafe -- A Place to eat holistically
Olive Cafe is not what you would expect. Revamped by seasoned chef Christelle Helf in 2009, into a healthy lifestyle concept, this is the place for holistic dining, and perfect to visit after a yoga or meditation session. It will only add to the sense of enlightenment and peace you feel.

Location

Who would have thought that there would be a hidden Mediterranean gem near Nanjing Lu Exit 2, that could set one’s taste buds ablaze with its authentic cuisine and flavours, meticulously prepared by chef Alexandre Molina. Chef Molina has over 20 years culinary experience, which had included working with international culinary Maestro Alain Ducasse in Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo.

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